Collymore destroys Aston Villa owner Xia on Twitter

The outspoken broadcaster displayed his frustration with the Chinese businessman, who bought the club from US tycoon Randy Lerner last summer.

Boyhood Villa fan Collymore hit out at “Harvard-educated billionaire” Xia for the regular transfer bulletins on his personal Twitter account, including “bizarre equations” and for revealing information before the official club website.

Collymore also expressed his distaste for Xia describing Villa as “his” club, with the former striker making it clear the former European Cup winners belongs to the supporters.

Xia bought Villa last summer following their relegation from the Premier League at the end of a wretched campaign that was one of the worst in top-flight history.

The new owner immediately appointed Roberto Di Matteo as manager only to sack him just two months into his reign.

Promotion specialist Steve Bruce was then installed in the dugout despite his unpopularity with many supporters, who remember his lengthy spell at bitter rivals Birmingham.

Xia has regularly communicated on social media with supporters in his second language, although many of his posts get lost in translation.

The owner, who has sanctioned another big spending spree this month with five new January signings to be augmented by another possible three on deadline day – left-back Neil Taylor, striker Scott Hogan and 17-year-old defender Jacob Bedeau – has recently taken to posting transfer Twitter messages in terms of the percentage of them happening.

Collymore urged Xia to simply “employ a manager who can put 11 players on a pitch and get promotion”.

Just employ a manager who can put 11 players on a pitch and get promotion.